Means for leveling multiple-face matrices in line-casting machines.



c. MUEHLEISEN a; 0. A. ALBRECHT. MEANS FOR LEVELIN'G MULTIPLE PAGE MATRICBS IN LINE GASTLNG MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FlIflD APR. 5 1910. I' I 1,O17,44=4=. Patented Feb. 13,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL MUEHLEISEN AND CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS ALBRECHT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY,

ASSIGNORS TO MERGENTHALER LINOT'YPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR LEVELING-MULTIPLE-FACE MATRICES IN- LINE-GASTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1 912.

Application filed April 5,-1910. Serial No. 553,564.

vented new and useful Improvements in Means for Leveling Multiple-Face Matrices .in Line-Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Th1s invention relates to improvements in means for leveling multiple face matrices in line casting machines, after casting from l5 and preparatory to distributing said matrices. It is especially applicable to the line casting machine which is known commercially under the trade mark linotype, described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 436532 dated September 16th 1890. For that reason, the application of it to that machine, has been chosen as an example convenient for illustration and specification as to details. I

When the matrices in the composed line, have (as described for example in Letters Patent Nos. 547633 and 615909) two or more faces one above another, they are supported in the so-called first elevator of the machine at as many difierentlevels, and this difference in level must be maintained until the respective printing bar has been cast. After ithas been cast, the matrices must all be restored to a common lev'el in order that they ma be transferred fromthe first. elevator to t 'e second elevator, the latter. having only one level and being thev first organ of the distributing mechanism.

- -According to the present invention, the

0" matrices to be leveled (2'. 6., restored to the common or normal level) are positively pushed upward in a straight path, past a yielding ledge, which, by such up-lifting of the said matrices, is momentarily moved out of the path of the adjacent lugs of themat- {rices' and immediately thereafter moved be neath the-said lugs to support all the matrlces of the line at the common level,

In the accompanying drawings z- -Figures l-anflZ'are vertical sections illustrating one arrangement according to this invention, and respectively showing the device at different stages of operation, and Fig.3 is a vertical sect on of a modified construction of the device.

1 represents the head or upper part of the first elevator; 2, one of the-matrices inthe higheror normal position in the said ele vator; 3, the supporting ledge of those higher matrices, and which, according to the present invention, is movable relatively 1 to the elevator head 1 ;4, one of the matrices in the lower or variant position; 5, the mold against which the elevator is holding the composed line in the casting position; 6, a bar or mat-rix lifter in a cavity 7 in the elevator head 1, and fast to one arm of a lever- 8 fulcrumed at 9, and engaging under the adjacent top Lugs 10 of the matrices 4, the opposite arm ofthe lever 8 projecting beyond the front of said elevator; 11, a stop adjustable in the fixed frame 12 of the machine and standing in the path taken by the forwardly-projecting arm of the lever 8 as the elevator 1 ascends from the casting position to meet. thesecond elevator; 13, a, spring to return the matrix-lifter 6 to its normal position; 14, a bevel or cam on the bottom edge of the ledge 3; and'15, a. bevel upon each of thecooperating lugs of the matrices 2, 4. The foregoing description applies equally well to both of the two arrangements shown in the drawings, these arrangements difi'ering only as regards the manner in which the.

respective ledges 3 are rendered movable.

stop for limiting the rearward swing of the ledge 3 and a spring 19 pocketed partly in normally to hold the ledge in its rearmost position.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the ledge 3 is in the form ofa fiat plate capable of sliding horizontallyforward and back- 3,00

ward in the elevator head 1, and is normally held in its 'rearmost position by a blade spring 20 secured to the front of the said head,-a suitablestop, not shownin the the arm 16 and partly in the head 1 serves drawing, being provided for limiting the rearward movement of the ledge to the desired extent.

W'hen' the first elevator of either of the two before-described arrangements is in the position in which it receives the composed line of matrices from the assembler, and

when such matrices are moved thereinto,

those of the matrices which are to present their lower formative cavities or faces to the mold 5, that 1s to say, the normal matrices 2, are received upon. or, more delisition relatively to the elevator 1 throughoutthe casting operation.

When the elevator 1 moves away from the casting position, in which it is shown in Fig. l, and as it approaches the second ele vator, the lever 8 engages ith the stop 11 whereby the matrix-lifter: is raised relatively to the elevator head 1, from the position'in which it is'shown in Fig. 1 to that in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As the matrix-lifter 6 is thus caused to move, it raises the matrices 4:, the bevels 15 on which, engage with the bevel or'cam 14 on the underside of the ledge 3, which latter is thereby moved forward against the action of the spring 19 Figs. 1- and 2, or 20 Fig.

\Vhen the matrix lifter 6 has completed its rise, as in Fig. 2 or Figrs, the lower front lugs of the mat-rices4raised by it, have been moved past the ledge 3 which, immediately ,thereafter, ,moved by its spring 19 or 20,

into its rearmost position, beneath the lower front lugs of all the matrices 2, 4. After the matrices have been mofvedout of the first elevator 1, the latter descends and the lever 8 being thereby moved out of contact with the stop 11, the spring 13 returns the matrix-liftertito its lowest position within the recess 7 the bottom of which latter forms the stop for limiting the said movement in such recess.

The terms matrix "and matrices are to be read as including type dies; and the term elevator as including any conveyer or means for moving the composed line toward the distributing mechanism, irrespective of its direction of motion. I Having described ouiinvention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a line' casting machine, the combination of matrices adapted to stand at a plurality of levels, a movable member for sup;

porting them, a member distinct from said supporting member for shifting matrices to a different level, and a single means for actuating said shifting member and for moving the supporting member out of itsv normal position. 2. In a line casting machine, the combination of matrices adapted to stand at a plurality of levels, a movable member for supporting them, a member distinct from said supporting member for shifting. matrices to a different level, and a single means for "positively actuating said shifting member adapted also to cause the movement of the supporting member out of the path of the -matr1ces.

5. In a line casting machine, the combina-. tion of matrices adapted to stand at a plurality of levels, a movable member for supporting them, and a matrix shifting member distinctfrom said supporting member, the whole so arranged that said matrices are shifted from one level to another and the supporting member is moved out of their path.

6. In a line casting machine, the combination of a movable supporting ledge adapted to siipport a. series of matrices, a matrix leveling member distinct from said ledge, and a single means adapted to actuate the matrix leveler remove the matrices from one level to another and simultaneously to move the supporting ledge out of their path.

7. In a line casting machine, the combination with a matrix lifter adapted to raise .mat-rices up to 'the'normal level, and a ledge adapted to support matrices at the normal level; of means adapted to render the ledge resilient against the pressure thereon of the matrices and to return the ledge toinormal position after the pressure of the matrices is withdrawn. I f I 8.' In a line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism, of

a matrix lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer up to the normal level, a ledge adapted to support matrices at the normal level, and means adapted to yieldingly hold the ledge in the upwa-rd path of t e lower matrices.

= 9. In a line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey mati'ices toward the distributing mechanism, of

a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer in a straight pathmp to the normal level, a ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer at the normal level, means adapted to yieldingly hold the ledge in the upward path of the lower matrices, and the ledge being suitably formed to be engaged by the, matrices for moving the ledge out of their path.

10. In a line casting machine, the combL nation with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism,

of a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer in a straight path up to the normal level, a movable ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer at the normal level, and means adapted to hold the ledge in the upward path of the lower matrices,

11. In a :line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism, ot' a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyor in a straight path up to the normal level, a movable ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer at the normal level, means adapted to hold the ledge in the upward path of the lower matrices. and a cam on the ledge adapted to be enaged by the matrices for moving the said ledge out of their path.

12. In a line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism, of a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the eonveyer in a straight path up to the normal level, a movable ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer atet-he nor mal level, a spring in operative relationship to the ledge to hold the latter in the upward path of the lower matrices, and a cam on the ledge adapted to be engaged by the matrices for moving the said ledge out of their path.

in the ledge is free to slide. so. that it can move into and out of the upward path of the lower matrices, and means adapted to hold the ledge in 'the said path.

MI In a line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributingmeehanisni, of a matriX-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer up to the normal level, a ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer' at the normal level, a guide wherein the ledge is free to slide so that it can move into and out of the upward path of the lower matrices, and a spring adapted to yieldingly hold the ledge inthe said path.

15. In a line casting machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism, of a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer up to the normal level, a ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer at the normal level, a guide wherein the ledge is free to slide so that it can move into and out of the upward path of the lower matrices, a spring adapted to yieldingly hold the ledge in the said path,

and means operative by the ascending matrices adapted to move the ledge out of that path. I

16. In 'a line casting machine, the combination with a eonveyer adapted to convey matrices toward the distributing mechanism,

of a matrix-lifter adapted to raise matrices in the conveyer up to the normal level, a ledge adapted to support matrices in the conveyer at the normal level, a guide wherein the ledge is free to slide so that it can move into and out of the upward path of the lower matrices, a spring adapted to yieldingly hold the ledge inthe said path, and a cam surface on the ledge adapted to be engaged by the matrices for moving the ledge out of their path.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL MUEHLEISEN. CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS ALBRECHT.

\Vitnes'ses HENRY I'IASPER, VVOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of this patent ay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

